I Am A Part of Art showcases 185 original works of art, representing more than 125 artists with disabilities. Works are professionally matted and framed, and all pieces are for sale, with proceeds supporting commissions for individual artists.The curated selections include a variety of media such as acrylic, tempera, watercolor, oil and chalk pastel, charcoal, and mixed media, and features abstract and representational paintings and drawings.

This annual exhibit is the culmination of more than 500 visual arts workshops that CATA holds throughout the year in day programs, residences, schools, elder care settings, and in the CATA Studio—all offering people with disabilities opportunities to stretch and grow creatively, learn new techniques, and find community by working side by side with others.

CATA workshops take place all across the Berkshires and in Columbia County, and are led by talented faculty who are also artists themselves; Jeff Gagnon, Pat Hogan, Marlene Marshall, Janice Shields, Stefanie Weber, and Michael Wolski.

I Am a Part of Art is generously funded by Jim & Joan Hunter; Frames on Wheels; The Fund for Williamstown, a fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; and other generous supporters.

Wallflowers Annual Performance & Gala

Please join us for Wallflowers—CATA’s annual performance and gala celebrating the artistry of people with disabilities!

Saturday, May 14 – CATA’s Gala evening includes cocktails at 5 pm, performance at 6 pm, buffet reception with music and dancing to follow. Call 413-528-5485 for more information.

Sunday, May 15 –CATA’s Matinee is $20 for adults and $5 for children under 12. Performance begins at 1 pm.

Art on Tour – The Whitney Center for the Arts

Community Access to the Arts (CATA) will exhibit at The Whitney Center for the Arts in Pittsfield March 4th through the 27th. The show will include framed paintings, drawings, and pastels created by artists with disabilities in CATA visual arts workshops throughout the year. All artwork is for sale, with CATA artists receiving a commission on all artworks sold.

An opening reception will be held Friday, March 4 from 5-8PM as a part of First Fridays Artswalk. A free after-party and social gathering follows from 8PM to 10PM with live music by singer/songwriter Alan Monasch.

CATA’s Executive Director Margaret Keller noted “CATA partners with 13 different Pittsfield organizations to offer arts workshops to 200 people with disabilities in Pittsfield alone. We are thrilled to have this opportunity to showcase the talents of our artists in this beautiful gallery space.”

CATA provides visual and performing arts workshops to 600 people with disabilities across Berkshire County. This exhibit is a part of CATA’s Art on Tour program, where original works of art created by CATA artists travels throughout the year to museums, galleries, community centers, and other venues in Berkshire County. To learn more about CATA programs and events, visit communityaccesstothearts.org

The Whitney Center for the Arts is located at 42 Wendell Avenue, in Pittsfield’s Upstreet Cultural District. For more information on First Fridays Artswalk and to view a listing and map of all participating artists and locations, visit FirstFridaysArtswalk.com.

Artwork by: Tim S.

Art on Tour – Good Purpose Gallery

Community Access to the Arts will exhibit a collection of paintings by people with disabilities at The Good Purpose Gallery in Lee from January 15 – February 16. An artist reception will take place Friday, January 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“Given the overlap between our missions, we are especially thrilled to partner with Good Purpose Gallery on this exhibit showcasing the talents and abilities of our remarkable CATA artists. We can’t wait for the community to see our colorful, striking, CATA art in this beautiful space.” remarked CATA executive director, Margaret Keller.

The exhibit will feature 30”x40” canvases created in CATA’s A.R.T. painting workshops. A.R.T. (Artistic Realization Technologies) is an adaptive painting technique developed by artist, Tim Lefens. This innovative process allows individuals with severe physical disabilities to precisely execute their creative vision with the help of a tracker acting as the hands of the artist. Through a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, CATA faculty artists were trained as A.R.T. trackers.

Both CATA and Good Purpose Gallery (a part of College Internship Program) share a mission to integrate people with disabilities into the community at large.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Lee cultural council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Art on Tour – No. Six Depot

A collection of paintings by CATA artists will be featured in aspecial exhibit at Six Depot Cafe through November.

Where:No. Six Depot – West Stockbridge, MAWhen: November 11 – November 30, 2015; with a “Meet the Artists” reception on November 23rd from 10:30-11:30am

Community Access to the Arts presents ALL RISE: Court Dance, a new work choreographed by Dawn Lane. Created in part during a Creative Development Residency at Jacob’s Pillow, with support from the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award Initiative.

The hour-long piece features a cast of 11 performers, a commissioned sound score, video projection, and a set that is constructed and deconstructed by the performers. The cast includes Lorimer Burns, Kelsey MacEachern, Leslie Nelson, Diane Prusha, Olivia Wilber, and members of CATA’s Moving Company. Known for her humor and use of props, Dawn Lane has been making work in the Berkshires for thirty years.

If you would like to make a contribution to ALL RISE: Court Dance and have your name listed in the program, send your donation by September 15th to CATA at 40 Railroad St. Suite 6, Great Barrington, MA 01230, or donate online.

ALL RISE: Court Dance is sponsored in part by Berkshire Magazine and generous individual donors.

I Am A Part of Art – Annual Art Show & Poetry Reading

This exhibit features over 100 works of art created by artists with disabilities from Berkshire County. The opening reception, which is free and open to the public, is Thursday, July 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. CATA will also hold a poetry reading on Friday, July 24th at 5 p.m. that includes selected works from CATA’s Writers Workshop.

“I Am a Part of Art” is made possible through the generosity of Berkshire Gas, Frames On Wheels, Pittsfield Cultural Council, and individual CATA supporters. The Lichtenstein Center for the Arts is open Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Ready, Willing & Able Annual Performance & Gala!

Please join us for Ready, Willing & Able—CATA’s annual performance and gala celebrating the artistry of people with disabilities! CATA’s Ready, Willing & Able theme beckons us to notice how ability lives within disability. No one is separate from their talents or their struggles. CATA artists model this every day; their unique lens on the world makes for terrific art!

CATA Exhibit at Lauren Clark Gallery

Celebrate the coming of Spring at Lauren Clark Gallery featuring a selection of CATA artwork, which will hang through March 23.

Lauren Clark, a partner in Tokonoma Gallery from 1992 to 2006 and owner of her own eponymous gallery since 2006, has a strong connection to her business, her artists, and her community. The gallery features fine art and contemporary craft by regional and internationally recognized artists in all media. Many of those featured are local artists, which allows personal relationships to develop, forming a whole group of people, a community.

CATAdirect Holiday Sale!

When: Friday, December 5 from 4-7pm and Saturday, December 6 from 10am-1pmWhere: CATA Studio/Gallery at 70 Railroad Street, Great Barrington.

Join us Friday, December 5 from 4-7pm or Saturday, December 6 from 10am-1pm, to shop for unique, handmade gifts! You’ll be supporting CATA artists with disabilities who earn commission on all products sold.

CATAmonials

We have been able to see first hand how our contributions have helped others. CATA really makes you feel there are no limits to what everyone can accomplish if given the opportunity. The spirit and inclusion of everyone is contagious.

— Stephanie and Bob Gittleman

Support CATA

Your gift helps fund the creativity that takes place in more than 1,000 visual and performing arts workshops serving over 600 people with disabilities throughout Berkshire County.Make a donation